I am told that this year’s commencement speaker invitations are moving in a more “anti-Trump direction” compared to a year ago, when they were, I am also told, largely apolitical. So far, no Trump administration speakers have been confirmed, but several campuses have invited sitting Democratic politicians and never-Trump Republicans such as Larry Hogan. I was asked to weigh in on this—specifically, whether universities are becoming more willing to snub or offend the Trump administration in their speaker selections. So, here I am.
I suspect this has less to do with university attitudes toward the Trump administration and more to do with concerns about student reactions and attention in the press. Prominent members of the Trump administration will likely be invited as commencement speakers. The delay in such announcements may simply reflect colleges and universities fending off critics who would attempt to cancel such speakers.
That said, a perceived “blue wave” may have some left-leaning college administrators simply reverting to their comfort zone. They almost always choose prominent leftist figures, many of them politicians, for commencement speakers. The exceptions occur when they see a need to curry favor with another group. This year, they may believe that a blue wave will emerge in the upcoming midterms. They may be wrong about that, but many university officials savor the idea.
Still, universities with an adversarial relationship with the administration would do well to invite Trump administration figures. The more adversarial the relationship, the more useful such invitations are. A commencement invitation does not obligate the university beyond a one-day event, so it is an easy way to smooth over difficulties. Ignoring the administration as a source of potential speakers is, in that sense, a wasted opportunity. But that calculation has to be weighed against the likelihood that students, faculty, and parents would object. The polarization of America is now on display on the podium.
The person who asked for my thoughts on this matter noted that some observers may point to declining approval ratings and waning political capital as a possible explanation for universities not inviting Trump administration officials. But I don’t see a dramatic plunge in his approval ratings—only the usual swings depending on world events. Ideologues who control most college administrations may believe, however, that Trump’s popularity is at a low ebb and are acting accordingly.
It is also worth noting that this moment differs from a year ago.
During the first year of Trump’s second term, there were new faces and old faces in new positions. It made sense that universities were seeking to connect with the administration. Trump also issued numerous executive orders bearing on higher education, so the interest was mutual. But the higher ed executive orders mostly stopped after August 2025.
My guess is that administrative actions affecting the academy will become salient again in the near future, and the invitations will flow once more.
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